The Vancouver Aquarium is much more than a beloved local institution and attraction; it’s also a nation-wide leader in environmental and conservation efforts. One of its most influential initiatives—in concert with the WWF—is the annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a community-led effort to clean up one of our great natural resources: our beautiful beaches and shores.

Each year, the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup coordinates clean-up events at hundreds of beaches across the country. In 2010, the week-long event removed 98,071 kilograms of litter from Canadian shores!

In Vancouver, the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup kicks off on Saturday, September 17, at Kitsilano Beach Park at 10am. It’s free to join the cleanup—just sign in at the official site—and a free lunch is included, too. Volunteers should bring their own re-usable water bottle to join in the event.

Cleanups are happening around Vancouver throughout the week, including events at Sunset Beach in Stanley Park, around False Creek, at Vanier Park, and many, many more. Search for all local events here: Search National Cleanups.

Want to make the greatest local impact? WWF data shows that three of the five “most littered shorelines” in Canada are right here in B.C.: Kanaka Creek and Kanaka Creek Regional Park in Maple Ridge, Tom Hopkins Ravine Park in Surrey and Brownsville Bar Park along the Fraser River in Surrey. Find details on joining these cleanups here.

Inside Vancouver is a multi-author blog, written by Vancouverites about Vancouver. Our goal is to give an insider’s view of Vancouver, to provide information, stories and opinions from the locals’ perspective about this great city.